When people think of a disability, many people will think of someone in a wheelchair. However, there are many disabilities that exist where they are not easily visible. Invisible disabilities are common in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 90% of people are living with an invisible disability. In this blog post we define what an invisible disability is and the different types and discuss ways on how we can help create inclusivity for people with invisible disabilities.
What is an Invisible Disability?
An invisible disability is defined as a physical, mental, or neurological condition that is not visible to others and can affect a person’s movement, senses of activities. A few examples of invisible disabilities include mental illnesses, brain injuries, chronic pain, cognitive and learning disabilities and autism. Unfortunately, there is stigma around people with invisible disabilities being accused of faking or exaggerating their disability. This makes it harder for people to disclose their invisible disability to others.
How do we Create Inclusivity?
Firstly, it helps to educate yourself on what the different types of invisible disabilities are and the symptoms, to have a better understanding of how to navigate them. It is important to understand a disability can affect each person in a different way, therefore assumptions should not be made. It is also important to believe a person if they tell you they have a disability. Thank them for sharing with you and check if they need any help or support. This will help them feel accepted for who they are.
In addition, it is important to understand different people may require different disability accommodations in place for them. For example, if a person has problems with hearing, having subtitles could help them or if a person has problems with their vision, having audio options or braille available for them. Furthermore,
We hope you have found this blog post helpful.